Knowing when
to get your first job in recovery can be a difficult decision:

On the positive
side, getting a job will keep you busy and therefore keep your
mind off alcohol or drugs.

However, the first 3 to 6 months of recovery is a
stressful time for a recovering person. The stress of balancing a job with
recovery meetings, cravings, the demands of family, etc. can be too much for
someone struggling every day to not use a substance.

For
some addicts and alcoholics, there is no choice. Financial
problems caused by the addiction may require some people in recovery to have a
job. Others may not have lost their job during their addiction so they may have
to return to work as soon as possible in order to keep their job.

Keeping
this all in mind, it’s clear that the answer of when to go to work will be
different for every recovering person.

If You Can, Take Your Time

Should
you have the opportunity to live in a halfway house for a period of 3 to 6
months without working and concentrate on your recovery, you may want to take
advantage of this. However, don’t think of this time as free time. Think of it
as an opportunity to work on yourself. Prepare yourself for the demands of
returning to the working world by developing as many coping skills as you can.
Explore your psychological health through counseling so that when you do return
to work, you will be prepared.

Make a Plan for Success

Before
returning to work, consider having a relapse prevention plan and/or a recovery
plan which includes the following:

A list
of triggers

A list
of coping skill

A gratitude
list

A daily
inventory plan

A list
of consequences

A support group of at least 5 people

Someone to be accountable to

A plan for healthy eating

Maintaining healthy sleeping patterns

A plan for managing stress

A plan for managing emotions

Use Your Support System

For
those who don’t have a choice, it is essential that you have a lot of support
to help you through the stressful times:

Make it clear to family, friends and
your recovery support group that you will need them whenever you feel overwhelmed by
the responsibilities of your job.

Be willing to talk about your problems as
they arise instead of holding them in and hoping they will go away on their
own. If you have a difficult situation arise at work, ask people how they think
you should handle it. If your boss or co-workers understand your situation,
lean on them for support when problems come up at work.

The
most important thing to remember is to be prepared each day to meet the
challenges of having a job. Draw on your strengths and seek the support of
those who care about you.

About the author
Anna Deeds:

I am a recovering addict and a Licensed Professional Counselor. I have over 7 years clean from all substances and more than 10 years from illicit drugs. I work as an addiction counselor and have more than 5 years experience counseling addicts.

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